Photoacoustic near-infrared spectroscopic endoscopy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021169414-A1
Application number	US-202017110824-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2020
Priority date	Dec 5, 2019
Publication date	Jun 10, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

In various aspects, a photoacoustic endoscopic probe and methods for measuring a hydration of a connective tissue in vivo using the photoacoustic endoscopic probe are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A photoacoustic endoscopic probe for obtaining photoacoustic near-infrared spectra from a region of interest, the probe comprising a beam combiner configured to direct light energy received from a light source into the region of interest and further configured to direct photoacoustic signals generated by at least one structure within the region of interest to an acoustic detector, wherein the photoacoustic signals are produced within the region of interest in response to illumination by the light energy.

2 . The probe of claim 1 , wherein the beam combiner comprises a pentaprism, the pentaprism comprising:
a. a beam combining face configured to direct the light received from a light receiving face into the region of interest and further configured to receive the photoacoustic signals from the region of interest; b. the light receiving face configured to direct the light received from the light source to the beam combining face; c. an acoustic reflecting face configured to reflect the acoustic signals received from the beam combining face to an acoustic detection face; and d. the acoustic detecting face configured to direct the photoacoustic signals received from the acoustic reflecting face to the acoustic detector.

3 . The probe of claim 2 , further comprising the acoustic detector coupled to the acoustic detecting face.

4 . The probe of claim 3 , wherein the acoustic detector comprises an acoustic transducer.

5 . The probe of claim 4 , further comprising at least one optical element configured to direct the light received from a multimode optical fiber coupled to the light source to the light receiving face of the beam combiner, wherein the at least optical element comprises at least one of a plano-convex lens and a prism.

6 . The probe claim 5 , wherein the light source is configured to produce the light in a wavelength scanning pattern ranging from a minimum wavelength to a maximum wavelength.

7 . The probe of claim 6 , wherein the minimum wavelength is about 1000 nm and the maximum wavelength is about 2000 nm.

8 . The probe of claim 7 , wherein the minimum wavelength is about 1300 nm and the maximum wavelength is about 2000 nm.

9 . A method for measuring a hydration of a connective tissue in vivo using a photoacoustic endoscopic probe, the method comprising:
a. providing the endoscopic probe, the endoscopic probe comprising a beam combiner configured to direct light energy received from a light source into a region of interest containing the connective tissue and further configured to direct photoacoustic signals generated by the connective tissue within the region of interest to an acoustic detector; b. direct the light produced by the light source into the region of interest using the endoscopic probe, wherein the light is produced in a wavelength scanning pattern ranging from a minimum wavelength to a maximum wavelength; c. detecting the photoacoustic signals produced within the region of interest in response to illumination by the light; d. transforming the detected photoacoustic signals into a photoacoustic spectrum, the photoacoustic spectrum comprising a plurality of photoacoustic signals and a corresponding wavelength, the corresponding wavelength indicative of the wavelength of light used to produce the corresponding photoacoustic signal; and e. transforming the photoacoustic spectrum into a tissue hydration using at least one predetermined single wavelength linear regression model.

Assignees

• Wang Lihong
• Maslov Konstantin
• Tuuli Methodius
• Stout Molly
• Macones George
• Shi Junhui
• Zhao Peinan
• Qu Yuan
• Hu Peng
• Univ Washington
• California Inst Of Techn

Inventors

• Wang Lihong
• Maslov Konstantin
• Tuuli Methodius
• Stout Molly
• Macones George
• Shi Junhui
• Zhao Peinan
• Qu Yuan
• Hu Peng

Classifications

• A61B1/00172

  with means for scanning · CPC title

• A61B1/0638

  providing two or more wavelengths · CPC title

• A61B5/435

  Assessing cervix alteration or dilation · CPC title

• A61B5/0095 Primary

  by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements · CPC title

• A61B5/0084

  for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence) · CPC title